Phylicia Rashad, Erika Alexander Cast in Public Theater's The Story

By Robert Simonson
and Kenneth Jones
October 17, 2003

Phylicia Rashad and Erika Alexander will star in the world premiere of Tracey Scott Wilson's play, The Story, starting Nov. 18 at the Public's Anspacher Theater.

A co-production with the Long Wharf Theatre, The Story concerns an African-American reporter who searches for the truth behind the brutal murder of a white man. Loretta Greco will direct the production.

Rashad, the former "The Cosby Show" matriarch, has been a more and more common sight Off-Broadway. In summer 2001, she starred in Charles Randolph Wright's Blue, a sleeper hit for the Roundabout Theatre Company. Two years earlier, she played Harlem Renaissance luminary Zora Neale Hurston in Thulani Davis' Everybody's Ruby, at the Public Theater. Regionally, she's acted Pearl Cleage's Blues For an Alabama Sky, Medea in Atlanta and Here's to Life in Syracuse.

Oddly enough, Alexander also starred on "The Cosby Show," from 1990 to 1992 as Pamela Tucker. Her films include "54" and "Full Frontal."

The cast of The Story also includes Kalimi Baxter, Tammi Clayton, Damon Gupton, Michelle Hurst, Stephen Kunken (Broadway's Proof) Susan Kelechi Watson and Sarah Grace Wilson.

Visit The Public Theater at www.publictheater.org.